Insights into Replacement Window and Door Pricing in San Diego

A lot of homeowners who are looking to replace the windows in their home are concerned about price. They know they need new windows, but they aren’t sure if they can afford it or not. Or, they are shopping around with the various companies that sell replacement windows in San Diego and want to compare prices over the phone before they commit to one company or another. They’ll call our office and ask things like, “How much would it be to replace 17 windows and one patio door?”

Unfortunately, this is a difficult—actually impossible—question to answer over the phone. So many factors go into the price of replacement windows.

Here are some of the factors that go into the pricing of replacement windows:

Window Sizes and Styles

The size and style of a replacement window can change the cost of a window dramatically. For example, a simple picture window—one with no moving glass panels or screens—will be less than a double hung window of the same size with two moving glass panels and screens. A standard patio door with two glass panels will cost much less than a huge four-panel patio door. Because of this, we can’t give customers an accurate price on replacement windows until we know the sizes of the windows needing to be replaced and the styles of windows they want. It’s tough to even give a rough estimate, because there are just too many factors that need to be taken into consideration.

Just like you probably have, we’ve seen the print ads put out by other San Diego replacement window companies that advertise windows of any size or style for a fixed amount. This seems like a simple way to do pricing and is probably attractive to a lot of homeowners, but you’ll likely pay more than you need to in the end if you go with a company that does pricing this way.

No replacement window company is going to do a job on which they lose money. That means that the companies offering fixed pricing are inflating the prices on most of their windows to make sure they don’t lose money on jobs that require only less expensive styles and sizes of windows. If you don’t want to pay more than you need to, go with a company that will provide you with customized pricing on the types of windows that make sense for your specific home. 

Quality and Added Features

The replacement window industry is like many others out there in that you generally get what you pay for. To put it bluntly, if you’re getting a cheap price, you’re getting a cheap window. Because replacement windows are made to order, there are no “overstock” or “discontinued models” for replacement window companies to sell at discounted prices. If you receive a quote that’s substantially lower than others, you’ll likely be getting windows made from substandard materials and without quality construction.

One exception to the “you get what you pay for” rule applies to some of the “household names” of replacement windows. The better-known brands often charge a higher price than their products are worth, in our opinion, simply because they know some homeowners are looking to buy a brand with a familiar name. Some of the brands we sell at BM Windows (that you’ve probably never heard of) are much better quality than the well-known brands and come at a similar price point.

Added features can also affect the cost of replacement windows. You may have a portion of your house that gets direct afternoon sun, so installing windows with upgraded protection in those areas could make sense for you. Or you may live on a busy street and need windows with added sound suppression technology. Those upgrades can increase the cost of your windows.

However, not every home in San Diego needs upgraded features or even the highest quality replacement windows. Some homes would do perfectly well with a more budget-friendly option. At BM Windows, we never try to upsell you on high-end products or features that you don’t need or want. We will make recommendations based on what you say you’re looking for in new windows and allow you to choose the products that you determine are best for your home and your budget.

Warranty

A window’s warranty can also affect the price. You’ll see everything from a five-year warranty to a double lifetime warranty on replacement windows. In our opinion, a really good warranty is worth paying a little bit extra for. Today’s windows have a lot of technology built into them. It’s not just the frame, glass, and locking mechanism that you see on the surface. And sometimes, that technology fails, even in the highest-quality windows. When you purchase a replacement window with a lifetime warranty or a double lifetime warranty, your window will get repaired or replaced at no cost to you if anything ever goes wrong. If you have a five-year warranty, and something goes wrong in year six, you are on the hook for the entire cost of the repair or replacement, which can easily add up to hundreds of dollars.

Before you buy a certain brand of windows, you also want to do a little bit of research on how the manufacturer handles warranty issues. Some manufacturers are notorious for rejecting warranty claims or taking months and months to address them, while others have a great system in place for handling any manufacturing defects that arise.

Installation

The installation is another factor that helps determine the cost of replacement windows in San Diego. If you get a price that seems too good to be true, the first thing you should ask is if the price includes installation. Some replacement window companies will give homeowners an initial quote that only includes the cost of the windows. Then, after the windows have been installed, they’ll present them with a second bill for the cost of the installation.

While not illegal, this is an extremely shady practice. Most homeowners assume that when they are getting a quote for replacement windows, the price includes installation. However, this isn’t always the case, so make sure you ask!

Another thing to be aware of with regard to installation is who will be installing the windows. Some companies in San Diego outsource the installation, while others have their own team of professional installers. At BM Windows, we’re in the latter group. We have highly trained window installers on our team who know the best and most efficient methods for installing our products. It’s what they do every day, and they are great at it! Because of this, we are able to guarantee their work with a lifetime installation warranty.

Final Thoughts

We know you probably came to this blog post hoping to get a better idea on the cost of replacement windows in San Diego, and may be a bit disappointed that we didn’t provide you with any specific amounts. We really wish we could give you a good estimate, but as you’ve probably realized after reading this post, we just can’t. However, we would love to meet with you at your home, take some measurements, and find out what you’re looking for in new windows. We can then give you an all-inclusive quote before we leave your home. There is no obligation to buy, and we won’t pressure you to sign a contract on the spot.

Contact us today and we’ll schedule an appointment time that works for you!